Indonesian rescuers evacuating people from a passenger ferry that caught fire at sea say more than 560 were rescued and three died.

At least three people were killed aboard a passenger ship after a fire broke out on Sunday morning, the authorities and local news outlets said.

At least five people have died and 284 rescued from a ferry fire off the coast of Indonesia's Sulawesi island. The Indonesian Navy said everyone onboard the KM III Barcelona has been removed from the ship. Passengers were seen diving into the water with lifejackets to escape the flames, before the blaze was extinguished.